Michigan State 3, Minnesota 3
11/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 23, 2007
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Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
On being better in the offensive zone compared to last week ...
I thought the kids reacted well, and they worked very hard. We had a lot of good scoring chances, as did they, but I thought it was a good game. They are a good team, minus a few really good players. They get up the ice quick, but I thought we got even better as the game went on.
On outplaying the opponent but being behind all game ...
We were playing from behind all night, but that's ok. In the end, these are the games that you will benefit from.
On power play struggles...
I think Jeff Petry is going through a little struggle. He played so well there for a stretch, and it just looks like it's caught him a bit. He'll be fine; he's just got to play through it.
On going back to the basics ...
Well, that's how we scored a lot before, and they kill well. Any team that skates that well, they jump the puck pretty well.
On Minnesota goalie Alex Kangas...
He's outstanding. We actually tried to recruit him. He's big, and he fills the net well; but we had him a couple of times here and there. But he played great, as did Jeff (Lerg).
On the way the team reacted and played tonight ...
I thought we battled tonight, but for some reason we still look fragile. I thought we fought through that though tonight. It seems like some guys are just having trouble getting going. Mueller I thought was real good, and he has struggle a bit. I didn't like the efficiency of the power play, but we did a couple of things in penalty killing. I like the way we battled, competed and fought back.
On addressing any particular focus points before hosting Wisconsin tomorrow...
I don't think so. They are finishing up against Michigan right now. We'll take a look at Wisconsin tomorrow, but they are a different team than Minnesota.
On Andrew Rowe receiving more playing time...
Yes. He skates well, and he's shown that he can beat the defensemen on the outside. And he showed the goalie that he can score.
Minnesota Head Coach Don Lucia
Overall impressions...
Alex (Kangas) gave us a chance to win in net tonight. We tried to play a very patient game. We were really short-handed tonight, but we aren't going to use that as an excuse. You still need to go out and perform, and I thought our guys did a real good job of competing.
On the play in overtime...
We had a chance to win in overtime, and they had some chances. As the game got going, it got better and better - especially the third period and overtime. It was the kind of game we needed because we didn't want to play too much of an up-and-down game; so, we were happy to play an ugly road game.
On the frequency of tied games between Minnesota and Michigan State...
When two good teams compete and play, it's usually going to end up being pretty evenly matched. I'm happy to get away with a tie tonight; I'll take it considering the circumstances.
On his team being shorthanded and some sloppy play...
We've got some guys that are sick, and some guys that are beat up right now. We had to try and overcome that. We had Kyle (Okposo) make a great play to put us up 3-2, then he had the "assist" to tie it up for them. He's a good player, and that's going to happen. I told him not to hang his head about it, because that's all part of the growing process.
On getting goals from unexpected sources...
We had a couple of first goals tonight in Stu Bickel and Mike Hoffel which was great to see.
On Michigan State...
They're a good team, and there is no question about that. We feel fortunate to come in here and get a tie.
Michigan State junior goalie Jeff Lerg
Overall impressions...
The coaches did a good job of preparing us for tonight; we were really working hard. We were a different team out there compared to last weekend against Miami. We were outworking them in many situations, and our team really played well enough to win that game; but that's the way hockey goes.
On preparing for tomorrow's game...
Our quality of play has to go up, so that would a big positive there. But we have to get a lot better. We obviously want to go out there and win every game, so there's a little bitter taste that we haven't won in three games at home here. We're going to try to regroup, and hopefully play well again tomorrow and get a win on the board. We know we're going to have to play well to win; we can't expect to show up and win without working.
On the team's third period play...
We really played well. The second period, too, we played really well; it was just another tough goal [against] there. We had the majority of scoring chances. It was just a tough game. Their goalie played well; he made some really nice saves. We got a couple good goals on him, though. We were just throwing the puck to the net and crashing the net hard, which is good.
On the level of play in the last few minutes of the game...
The puck was bouncing all over the place. They hit a couple of posts. That was a real big positive that the bounces were going our way a little bit. They're a tough team to play against because they don't waste shots. They have a lot of real talented players, and they don't come across the blue line just to flutter the puck on net. They come across looking for a really great scoring chance.
On Michigan State controlling the tempo of play...
We did a good job of playing a physical type of game with them, making them play a way they don't really like to play. On the smaller ice, we try to hit them a little more, and try to outwork them the way we did. We were in the game, and we were taking it to them offensively. Our guys were playing smart down there and not really wasting any of their energy.
Michigan State junior forward Tim Kennedy
On his shorthanded goal ...
We talked earlier this week while watching the power play; they like to make the one extra pass. When coming up to block the shot, that went through my mind. And I saw him wind up for the fake, and go across to try and set up for the one timer. I just put my stick out there just to tap it away, and it went forward, but to the side. I corrected my stride, and then I saw that I had a breakaway. But I knew that they were right behind me, so I wasn't going to deke. I looked up, and saw the stick side open. And I took the shot, and it found the hole.
On the offensive play this week as opposed to last week...
We really worked on that this week in practice. We battled all week, from Monday till this morning. Last week we would just come down the ice, get a shot on net from 25-feet away, have no rebound, have no cycle, and they would just go back three-on-two. Our guys don't like that; our guys like getting the puck down low and working the cycle. That is what we worked on all week in practice, and I thought we did that better tonight. We got more chances, so I think our hard work paid off.
On how his line performed ...
I think we performed well. We had our chances; we had a couple two-on-ones, but the puck kept jumping. [Tim] Crowder - I wish someone would give him a tap, or something. He is the best pure goal scorer I have ever played with. But right now, he just can't buy himself a goal. That two-on-one he had with [Justin Abdelkader], he was going to shoot, and the puck hopped up on its edge. Everything that could happen is happening right now, but once he breaks out of it, look out, because he is going to score a lot this year. If that puck doesn't flutter, it's definitely in the back of the net. In practice, if that kid gets the puck, it's right by Jeff in the back of the net; and that is pretty hard to do.
On how the locker room is feeling after the tie ...
We are frustrated, but anytime you can tie with a team like Minnesota. You can't be too upset. We thought we had our chances today. A tie in your own building - that's not what you want, but we will take it. It's a lot better than a loss, because you never want to lose three in a row at home; that is just unacceptable. We just really wanted that win tonight.
On Wisconsin tomorrow ...
Last year they handled us pretty well. We have that in the back of our minds, but they are a good team. They have [Kyle] Turiss, so we are pretty anxious to see what he has to bring to the table. But, I expect tomorrow to be a great game. They come out, they hit, and they pound you. They are kind of a team like Miami; they have a bunch of big boys. They won the title two years ago. They lost a little bit after that, but not too much. Now, their team is reloaded, so tomorrow should be a very good game.
